Our team is an eclectic group with divergent backgrounds and histories. We all believe deeply in the value of progressive education and enjoy seeing its positive impact for Putney students every day. To learn more about why we love Putney, read on!
Students serve on our admission committee and help shape the future Putney School community.
B.A Earlham College
M.A. Columbia University, Teachers College, Klingenstein Center
Why do you love working at Putney?
I like working at Putney because this is a place that truly wants students to be great. Putney is a place that is doing more than educating students academically, we are giving each student skills to really navigate life. That is the reason I have chosen to make this place my home. Also, I have to argue that you would never find a more warm and inviting community like Putney.
How do you continue to be a lifelong learner?
Learning is something that is lifelong for me. I keep myself in books, deep conversations and believe that we can learn from each other. I strongly believe that everything we do is a learning opportunity and I love working in education because students are always pushing me to stretch out of my comfort zone and learn more.
What’s your favorite place and/or season on campus?
I love being outdoors at Putney. The views and the greenery are unreal here and I just love taking it all in. Also, I love the dining hall as the food is yummy and students are very proud when they bake something fresh for the community to enjoy.
Why do you love working at Putney?
Being a part of transformative spaces that center the growth of young people is incredibly rewarding. I love the work of admissions here as students begin to imagine what is possible. There is a thoughtfulness to understand students as whole people and best serve families that is a pleasure to be a part of. I enjoy the challenge.
How do you continue to be a lifelong learner?
My personal work as a theater director and educator is a lifelong sandbox of exploring new ideas and developing skills. I love collaborating with others as we chase stories to share on-stage. Every production brings its own demands, obstacles, and revelatory confrontations to move through together. I particularly love facilitating young people’s discovery of themselves and their craft through theatre arts. It inspires and teaches me – and guides me in all my other activities.
What’s your favorite place and/or season on campus?
Fall is always a stunning season in Southern Vermont but it’s that first return of cooler breezes in the late summer that I’ve fallen in love with here at Putney. That exciting first promise of fall is all the more tasty in this beautiful setting.
Why do you love working at Putney?
I love Putney enough to move across the country to work here; it is a learning journey for me just like it is for all our prospective families. I love building and developing relationships with families and helping them navigate through what can be an overwhelming journey.
How do you continue to be a lifelong learner?
Journalism taught me to seek out stories and inform others. I like to think of learning as an ongoing story everyone should share. Whether through my experiences or daily interactions, I am dedicated to learning one new thing each day in whatever capacity I can.
What’s your favorite place and/or season on campus?
The barn would be my favorite place on campus. The opportunity to work with and learn more about animals is a true privilege. Being from California, I am not used to actual seasons. I love fall!
Why do you love working at Putney?
I was faculty at Putney for five years in the math and science departments. I loved the academic freedom to design my own curriculum and encouraged students to do the same. The moment when a student would get excited about an independent project or project week was always the best part of the day.
How do you continue to be a lifelong learner?
I remain active by setting ambitious long-term goals. One is to ride my bike 50 miles in all 50 states. This has been a wonderful way to understand our country better and see places I would never have seen otherwise. Another current goal centers around birding the local area. I hope to see as many bird species in Windham County (the county where Putney is) as possible. This has connected me to the local birding community, inspiring me to offer an ornithology class in the spring. It also connected our school to the MOTUS collaboration and the construction of the radio telemetry tower on campus. I’ve found that my large goals lead to unexpected opportunities.
What’s your favorite place and/or season on campus?
Despite my wife’s confusion, my perfect day is 18 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny with skis on my feet. I look forward to skiing each winter and am excited to introduce my son to skiing on Putney’s trails and Brattleboro’s tow rope this year.
Why do you love working at Putney?
What brought me to Vermont is an intentional experiential learning community on a hill with gorgeous views. I can remember the first time I drove up to Putney and turned around in the parking lot to take in this view, thinking I had to learn more about this school. The community building and showing up daily for this community is why I’m excited to be joining the Putney Team.
How do you continue to be a lifelong learner?
I am a firm believer in you “learn something new everyday.” But, I noticed that you only really start believing that when you make a conscious, intentional note of that “thing” that was learned. I have tried to practice that mantra for the past few years and can see a difference in my gratitude for knowledge and learning that wasn’t there before. Now, I also make sure that I maintain my various language skills, making sure to note new vocabulary I pick up. I’m always up for learning a new language as well!
What is your favorite place and/or season on campus?
I’m partial to late summer/early fall on campus. My birthday is in October and I love those days that are t-shirt weather during the day and then cold(er) at night. I’ve heard someone call it “swimming and sweatshirt weather” before. As to my favorite spot, I would have to say the performance halls of Putney are the best, because they were the first spots on campus I got to visit. I’m looking forward to exploring more though soon.
Thank you for your interest in The Putney School! We have a thoughtful application process that aims to uncover your creative and intellectual passions and your character. The students who
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